THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. Welcome to the White House. I am here to
say goodbye to a good friend, and introduce the newest nominee to my
Cabinet. Recently Rob Portman came and told me that after 14 years of
public service in Washington, he's ready to head home, to be with Jane and
the family. I've known him for many years. There's no finer man in public
service than Rob Portman. He's been a trusted advisor, and Laura and I are
going to miss him.

Fortunately, we found a good man to succeed him. Today I'm pleased to
announce my nomination of Jim Nussle to serve as Director of the Office of
Management and Budget. I'm proud to welcome Jim's wife, Karen, his mom and
dad, Lori and Mark, and his mother-in-law, Eva Mae. Any man who invites
his mother-in-law to a -- (laughter) -- has got to have good judgment.
(Laughter.) We're going to ask a lot of Jim, and I thank you all for
supporting him in this.

The job of OMB Director is one of the most important in our federal
government. The Director has a central responsibility for implementing the
full range of my administration's agenda, from defense programs that will
keep the American people safe to energy initiatives that will break our
dependence on foreign oil, to tax policies that keep our economy growing
and creating jobs.

In all these areas, the OMB Director works to ensure that the American
people get good value for every tax dollar they send to Washington. Jim
Nussle is the right man to take on these challenges. For 16 years, Jim
represented the people of Northeast Iowa in the United States Congress. As
a member of Congress, Jim was a strong advocate for fiscal discipline, and
a champion of tax cuts that allowed the American people to keep more of
what they earn. In 2001, Jim became Chairman of the House Budget
Committee. As a leader in Congress, Jim showed he can work with members of
both sides of the aisle to get positive things done for America. Jim's
name and knowledge command respect on Capitol Hill. And as OMB Director,
he will use his expertise about the budget process to ensure that the
taxpayers' money is spent with respect and with restraint.

In his new post, Jim will continue the important work carried out by Rob
Portman. Over the past two years, Rob has served my administration in two
important jobs. As the United States Trade Representative, Rob negotiated
several new trade agreements and reenergized the Doha talks at the World
Trade Organization.

And as OMB Director, he helped me achieve our goal of cutting the federal
deficit in half, and doing it three years ahead of schedule. He's helped
me put forward a plan to balance the budget by 2012, by restraining federal
spending and keeping our taxes low. He's put Democratic leaders in
Congress on notice that I will veto bills with excessive levels of
spending. He has led my administration's efforts to curb the use of
congressional earmarks and implement reforms that will make the earmark
process more transparent.

I thank Rob for his service and good advice, and, most of all, his
friendship. I want to tell his wife, Jane, that after 14 years of
commuting to Washington, he's going to be back home in Ohio, especially on
the weekends. Rob is a tough act to follow -- but that's why I picked Jim
Nussle. He's a man of integrity, a man of vision, a man well-qualified to
hold this job. I ask the Senate to act quickly on his nomination. When
confirmed, he'll make an outstanding OMB Director.

Congratulations to you. (Applause.)

CONGRESSMAN NUSSLE: Thank you, Mr. President. Well, first, thank you, Mr.
President for your kind words, your leadership, and especially for
entrusting me with this responsibility. I'm truly humbled, and it is a
privilege to stand here with you today and in the coming months. I won't
let you down. I won't let you down.

I'd also like to thank Josh Bolten and Rob Portman. Their past work leaves
me with very big shoes to fill. Josh, it's going to be great to be able to
work with you again. And, Rob, I hope you're going to keep your cell phone
handy, because I'm going to need to call you with a lot of questions, I'm
sure.

In all seriousness, Rob, I want to thank you for your hard work, your
leadership and leaving me with a fantastic team at OMB to help carry on
your good work. I wish you and Jane and Jed and Will and Sally all the
very best. Today really should be a celebration of your excellent example
of public service, and I mean that as sincerely as I can say it.

Mr. President, I look forward to the awesome responsibility you've placed
upon me. If I'm fortunate enough to be confirmed, I feel confident that my
experiences in Congress and as the House Budget Chair have prepared me well
for the challenges that lay ahead. I'm excited to help tackle our nation's
priorities and work again with my friends and colleagues in the House and
Senate.

I want to say also a few words about my home, Iowa, and also my family and
the people who make up that great state. They've given me incredible
opportunities throughout my life. My experience, my optimism -- and
sometimes humor -- work ethic and success have all come from my family and
friends and the people in Iowa, and I want to thank you for the incredible
foundation that you've given me. And I'm going to need it in the coming
months, I'm sure, your continued prayers and good wishes and friendship.

I want to thank my wife, Karen; my kids, Sarah and Mark; and my family,
particularly my mom and dad, who are here today, Lori and Mark Nussle, and
my mother-in-law, as the President mentioned, Eva Mae, who are all here
today. And I truly wouldn't be standing here without your constant love
and support. So thank you for that.

Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity, and I'm ready to get to work.
Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT: Good job.

DIRECTOR PORTMAN: Jim is going to need some of that Iowa humor, so if you
could -- (laughter) -- that would be good.

Mr. President, first, thank you very much for your kind words and for the
opportunities you've given me, and the honor to be able to serve in your
Cabinet, both as the Budget Director and the Trade Negotiator. And
congratulations to you, Jim.

This is a great opportunity at OMB to make a big difference. It can also
be a tough job sometimes. Although my title was Director of OMB, other
titles sometimes came my way -- Dr. No. (Laughter.) Tightwad.
(Laughter.) Budget hawk. Penny-pincher. (Laughter.) And some not
suitable for a television audience. (Laughter.)

But, actually, I want to sincerely thank my colleagues in the Cabinet. I
want to thank the Chief of Staff, Josh Bolten, and my colleagues here at
the White House, and also my former colleagues from the Hill, for their
friendship, for their support and for the way we were able to work together
to be sure we were spending the taxpayers' dollars as well as possible.

Mr. President, your leadership on fiscal matters has resulted in lower
taxes, responsible spending and a growing economy. You proposed a balanced
budget and others followed suit. You proposed earmark reforms, and
Congress is now adopting those goals. You have shown courage by taking on
the toughest budgetary challenge there is, and that's the unsustainable
growth and important entitlement programs like Social Security and
Medicare.

You've broken new ground in bringing more transparency and accountability
to federal spending. I've enjoyed the opportunity to help you shape some
of these pro-growth and fiscally responsible policies, and I very much
appreciate the confidence you've shown in me to take on some tough
challenges.

Some of those challenges go back to my tenure as U.S. Trade Representative,
where you set an aggressive agenda to bring down global trade barriers and
negotiate trade agreements with allies. We are now opening new markets, and
American exports are growing twice as fast as imports. Just as I was proud
to represent the United States around the world on trade, I've been very
proud to promote your focus on fiscal discipline.

It's difficult to leave such important and meaningful work. But it is now
time to go home to Ohio. After 14 years of commuting to Washington, D.C.
from Cincinnati every week, it's now time to put my family first. I want
to thank my wife, Jane, who is here today, for her love and support and
patience. I want to thank my children, Jed, Will and Sally. My family has
been very understanding of the intense demands and the unique rewards of
public service. In many respects, as the President said when he first
nominated me for USTR, they, too, are in public service.

Mr. President, as you know, I felt this was the right time to make a change
so that you would have a new director in place as the new budget season
begins. And you have made a terrific choice. Jim is a friend and former
colleague of mine, as you said, widely respected Chairman of the House
Budget Committee. He's a public servant of integrity, knowledge and skill.
He knows the budget. He knows the Congress. And he knows how to get
things done for the American people.

Thank you again, Mr. President, for the honor of serving you and this great
nation.